Vintage Fridays: Vern Stephens, 1954 Topps #54

Of all of the cards that I own, this battered 56-year-old Vern Stephens may be the most badly worn of them all. Similarly, my girlfriend is in pretty rough shape right about now. She threw out her back earlier this week. Then today, her sister twisted her ankle. Meanwhile, their parents are stuck in France, grounded by an ash cloud from the volcanic eruption in Iceland. What are the odds?

Long story short, I have swooped down to Southern Maryland on little notice to lend a helping hand. Nothing is bringing ol' Vern back from the collector's hinterlands, but I can be of use in the latter situation.

Vern Stephens, 1991 Crown/Coca-Cola All-Time Orioles #437

Whoops, no time to ramble on at length as I normally do here. Tonight is my sister's engagement party. The big day is just about a year away: Friday, October 23, 2009. For that reason, please enjoy third baseman Vern Stephens, one of the original 1954 Orioles. You see, he was born on October 23, 1920. Plus, he's got a festive sort of look on his face. That's good enough for me!